ST PAUL, Minn. — A constitutional amendment authored by former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page and Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari would address what supporters say is an "unavoidable truth."
"We adults have failed children," said Page in a press conference Tuesday at the state Capitol.
The bill is garnering bipartisan support and Attorney General Keith Ellison emphasized the bill would not open the door to vouchers.
"People have said, 'Is this going to allow vouchers?' When you have the word 'public' in the amendment three times, I think we're good," said Ellison.
The amendment does not detail specific actions to address the gap, but supporters say it's a critical first step: giving Minnesotans the opportunity to state our values.
"Good enough is not good enough," said Rep. Rena Moran, who helped write the bill.
The state's largest teacher's union, Education Minnesota, strongly opposes the amendment, stating the problem lies with funding.
Supporters do not yet know whether the measure has the votes it needs to appear on the November ballot.